President George W. Bush description of recent
events in Iraq is "bland to the point of dishonesty," the Washington
Post charged, in a blistering editorial accusing the president of
failing to admit the worsening situation in Iraq. "His description of
Iraq is bland to the point of dishonesty," the leading daily wrote,
noting that Bush said Friday that, "despite ongoing acts of violence,"
Iraq has a strong prime minister, a national council and that it will
hold elections in January. "Not only has Mr. Bush not said how, or
whether, he intends to respond to the worsening situation -- he doesn't
really admit it exists," the Post said. This duck-and-cover strategy
may have its political advantages, but it is also deeply irresponsible
and potentially dangerous. As conservative Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.)
put it last week, "the worst thing we can do is hold ourselves hostage
to some grand illusion that we're winning. Right now, we are not
winning. Things are getting worse." [more 
] and [WP article ]
A classified National Intelligence Estimate prepared
for President Bush in late July spells out a dark assessment of
prospects for Iraq... The estimate outlines three possibilities for
Iraq through the end of 2005, with the worst case being developments
that could lead to civil war, the officials said. The most favorable
outcome described is an Iraq whose stability would remain tenuous in
political, economic and security terms."[more ] Compare that to the following:
- "[Iraq is] on the path to lasting democracy and liberty" -- George W. Bush, 8/5/04 [more ]
- "Iraq is continuing to move forward to build a free and peaceful future." -- Scott McClellan, 8/6/04 [more ]
- "We're making progress on the ground [in Iraq]" -- George W. Bush, 8/23/04 [more ]
- "We're moving in the right direction [in Iraq]." -- Vice President Cheney, 8/24/04 [more ]
- "We continue to make progress as we help the Iraqi people move forward to a brighter future." -- Scott McClellan, 9/9/04 [more
- "They're working at making a success out of that
country...And I think they've got a darned good crack at making it." --
Donald Rumsfeld, 9/14/04 [more ]
- "The President talks often about the progress we've made in places like...Iraq." -- Scott McClellan, 9/15/04 [more ]